[stylist] New writing prompt

Wed Jan 9 02:20:24 UTC 2013

Since the response to Bridjit's December fan fiction prompt was on the cooler side of lukewarm, I will post a new prompt for those interested in flexing their writing muscles, or perhaps actually working on a new year's resolution. 

This prompt has several steps. The first is to read and digest Bridgit's excellent lesson on creative non-fiction, which she posted last week. If you deleted it without reading it, it can be found in your deleted folder, or in the archives on the NFB Writer's Division web page.  

Next, open a new document on your computer. Take a deep breath and clear your mind. Now, quickly write 3 to 10 truths about blindness, as you know it. They can be a single word, a sentence, or several sentences, but be brief, be general. For example: Blind people can do anything. Or, blindness sucks when you have a remote for your new TV with 742 buttons, yet none of them seem to turn it on.  

For the next step, take a day or two or three to think about your list of truths, and see if any of them resonate more than the rest. Which one do you really connect with at this point and time in your life? That's the one you are going to write about.

When you have your 'truth', and have reflected on it, how it applies to you or someone you know, think about how you might write about this in a creative non-fiction piece. How can you apply some of the tools you learned about in Bridjit's lesson to craft a piece that will both inform, and engage a reader?

Now write your piece. There's no word limit, but try to make it at least 250 words, and less than 3,000. When you've finished, let it sit for a day or two or three, then take another look at it. Are there extraneous words? Tighten your sentences. Does each sentence add to the piece? If not, delete it and see if it still makes sense. Does your piece have a beginning, a middle, and an end? Does the first sentence grab the reader's attention? If not, work on it.     

Once you have a piece of writing you are satisfied with, post it for the group to read and comment on. Don't take the comments personally, but see if they have merit and might help improve your piece. That's our goal here. We want to become better writers. Which means you also have to read other's pieces with an editor's mindset. Try to make helpful comments, both positive and negative, if you feel it's appropriate. We want to be helpful, and supportive.

Warning: Do not criticize anyone who has a different opinion than you do. Comment on the writing, not on the opinion. This is my biggest concern with this writing prompt, beyond a lack of participation. We are all individuals, at different places in regards to how we feel about blindness. I may think all blind people can drive cars, and you may disagree. However, the point of this exercise is to comment on the writing. If I didn't make a good argument, then say so. But if you think blind people driving cars is ridiculous, keep that to yourself.     

Finally, take the feedback that hopefully others have given you, and edit your piece one more time. Polish it (I hate the way Jaws says that like someone from Poland) and take the scariest step any writer has to take-submit it to your state NFB's newsletter. If your state doesn't have a newsletter, submit it to the Braille Monitor. Or your local newspaper's op-ed page.     

Lastly, if anyone who participates in this prompt gets their piece published, even if it's 6 or 8 months from now, let me know and I'll send you an amazon gift card. And then you can say with pride that you are a professional writer. 

This offer is only valid for newly written pieces. Articles you wrote before and just dusted off won't be considered.

Now, let's get writing.

Chris